On my way to the next course for my Unschooled Master of Theology program at KI, I stumbled onto a new course they just released, The Heavens Declare, which is about creation and the study of origins. This post will contain all of my assignment responses for the course.
As a reminder, you can find all of my course assignments for the uThM here.
So, let’s get started….
What Do I Already Know?
I know and am convinced by the word of God and the empirical evidence available, that the earth and the universe is only about 7000 years old. This is approximate given that no one has been able to measure the age of creation since no one started from the beginning, but only looked backward from the future into the past and made assumptions. I also am convinced of this due to supernatural discernment. I also see God’s evidence of design in his created world. But, this must be taken with a grain of salt because I am a catastrophist and not a uniformitarian. I don’t think the processes on the earth have been steady and consistent for thousands upon thousands of years. I think during different parts of creation’s history there have been times of upheaval, such as the flood. I think the climate on earth has changed drastically over the centuries.
I would reject the idea that we can date the earth by where fossils are found buried in the earth simply because fossils can be buried a number of different ways by different processes. It is not uniform. You cannot then date a fossil age by where its found in the earth. This is circular reasoning.
I also am convinced that there is no way to convince skeptics or those who are certain of evolution. They are lost to the gospel of Christ. They, apparently, have not been called to Christ by the Father. It is futile to debate these individuals or to quibble over data that they use to support old earth theories. These are fairy tales and do nothing for us. Introductory courses in origins provides a fine foundation for our youth and for individuals who are uniformed about creation or evolution. But they should be taught both worldview as well as those views that teach the earth rests on giant supernatural elephants. People need to be able to discern for themselves what is true. If they cannot they will never be able to move beyond the basic tenets of the faith.
What Do I Want to Learn?
I would like to see what is happening that might be new in the world of origin studies.
I would like to get a good overview of the basic tenets of origin studies.
Volume One – What I Learned – Comments
There is always contradiction in every system or belief or doctrine at some point. Some element we haven’t actually thought through completely or taken it to its logical end. The presenter here makes this error when he states that it is wrong for evolutionists to claim all the evidence from science points to evolution but that it does not, that in fact Science cannot prove anything because no one was there measuring at the event in question. But in the next sentence, he states that the video will show how the evidence actually points to creation instead. The problem here is Science (the data) can’t point to anything. The pointing (or our interpretation of the data, deciding what the data actually might mean) is done by us and is separate from the science of gathering data (which has to be empirical). So, in reality, there are two opposing worldview that are continually trying to use scientific data to prove something that is improvable. You have to believe God created the physical cosmos or you don’t. You will believe this if you are actually drawn by the Father to the Son and to salvation. If so you are a vessel of mercy. God will finish the work he has started in you. If you are not, then there is no hope at all for you. You are dead in your sin. There is no way you can come to Jesus but through him. How God created the earth doesn’t really matter in the end. All that matters is if you believe God created it.
I also have heard a great deal in the past by evolutionists about uniformitarianism. All the processes that occur today have continued to occur throughout history past and at the same rates. These are the physical laws that govern the material world. They care consistent, measurable, etc. They criticize and reject any claims that there were or are catastrophes that shape or reshape the earth or have impact with the larger physical universe. Yet, every time they come to a point where the “data” does not fit their predefined models, they immediately reach for “astroid collision” which is a catastrophe by definition.
In the end, though, I’m not certain there is a whole lot of benefit in devoting a lot of time studying science or evolution or the creationist rebuttals to it. Yes, I think children should be exposed to both views. I think they should be given opportunities to wrestle with the data for themselves, as well as the interpretations on both sides, so they can come to their own conclusions about the physical universe and God’s involvement or lack thereof. They will either do this as children, under your watchful eye, when you still have influence over the information being presented (and if your information is not convincing maybe your conclusions are themselves suspect), or they will leave your home after all the years you have invested and the first time they are presented with indoctrination, they will be overtaken and their faith will be shipwrecked. They must be able to think for themselves. Form arguments. And they must develop their own voice and seize autonomy for their own beliefs and action. Otherwise, they will never survive in this hostile environment that is against the Christian. When the cost is great, the faith must be both genuine and independent of arguments and others. It cannot be derived from family obligation or societal pressure. Faith is a work of God the Father and we can only fan that faith into a fire that God originally wanted built.
Volume Two – What I Learned – Comments
If the universe started out as a “extremely hot and dense point” what was contained within it? Did it have mass? More importantly, where did this come from? How was it created? When did ex nihilo occur and how and from what? What existed before this point?
For the most part, I think this kind of argumentation really holds no interest for me. I’m not interested or convicted to reason with evolutionists or non-believers. They have their lot. They are either making the choice to reject God or they are predestined to reject him so either way it really does not matter. God knows those who are his and he will save those who he is saving. He will save everyone he plans to save. It is the “revealing of the sons of God” not the decision of those to become so or those who were convinced by crafty human logic.
I will say I did really like this video and the series overall. It has some great images and CGI, and the presenter argues some interesting and important points but also breaks it down for the lay person who does not know a whole lot about science in the first place. I plan to use these videos for my three children in the homeschooling curriculum here very soon. They will be watching all three videos divided into segments, with an assignment worksheet to complete after each segment is watched. Then I think we will have some discussions over dinner concerning the information they gleaned from the videos. More than anything, I want them to understand that it is okay to not know, to be confused, to have to wrestle with questions that they don’t have the answer to. But the most important takeaway is: they need to keep asking questions.
Volume Three – What I Learned – Comments
To say the universe “just happened” or “had no cause” is no different than saying God has “already existed” or “had no beginning and will have no end.” Why argue against the existence of God in the first place? Why not just accept him as a reality? Oh, yes. Because if there was a God, if we were to acknowledge that he existed, we would likewise have to accept everything else that came with God – judgment, morality, purity, the reality of sin. If they accepted that God existed then they would have to either abandon their sinful behaviors or be condemned under God’s condemnation. They do not want to do that. So, God cannot exist, regardless of the evidence to the contrary.
This quote I found fascinating. “Science can proceed only if the scientist adopts an essentially theological world view.”
It would be logical that the concept of the multiverse would be supernatural, in that it is outside of our particular universe. Unfortunately, this is not how proponents would view this because, despite it being separate from our universe, the other universes are still governed by the forces that govern our universe. But as I’ve read about his theory, it is not that these universes are different from our own anyway. It is simply the same universe that is so expansive that there stands to reason that there would at some point be a reproduction of our universe only under slightly different conditions. Parallel universes or pocket universes would be better understood as isolated islands from each other. The idea that these other universes are unseeable by us in our universe would indicate that they exist in different dimensionalities, not in the same dimension. These, then, would be supernatural. They cannot be falsifiable and, thus, are not scientific but religious in nature.
The idea that we are creating our own universe with the elements that are perfectly tuned to our requirements to exist therein is interesting but implausible. If we had magic readily available to us. If we had a long history in the world of moving and changing things with our own minds and our own wills, then I would say this argument would have more weight. But, the sheer fact that the external world around us does appear to be very physical, very external, very real, and quite harsh is a testament to the fact that it is not bending its will to anything me might think, say, or do.
I think this is an important point: the argument is not science vs religion. It is an argument against two distinct and opposing religions that are both using the same scientific data to support their view of their individual supernatural worldview. I smiled at Carl Sagan’s quote, “our feeblest contemplations of the cosmos stir us – there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a great height.” It’s ironic he should say such things, because that is truly what has occurred for man and especially for those who seem to have no hope in Christ in this life. Those who are adamant that they neither need nor want a savior, who would rather burn in the Lake of Fire for all eternity consciously, willingly, purposefully, stubbornly, than to submit to a Lord and King. It’s humbling for me to witness as they grope in the darkness, searching feverishly for some semblance of order, for some bastion of understanding or logic or reason, yet have no capacity or desire or draw to the very answers they seem to crave. They appear to be creatures made for the slaughter, broken toys, totally and completely destitute and depraved beasts.
Conclusions
This was a good set of videos. They were well done, though, they were a little too defensive – with evolution being the main framework form which the documentary followed along, trying to interject along the way. Overall, though, it was a really well done survey. So much so that I have incorporated these videos into my children’s homeschooling curriculum.
Until my next assignment….
Please consider supporting my writing, my unschooled studies, and my hermitic lifestyle by purchasing one or more of my books. I’m not supported by academia or have a lucrative corporate job – I’m just a mystical modern-day hermit trying to live out the life I believe God has called me to. So, any support you choose to provide is GREATLY appreciated.
Excerpt from Our Daughter:
“Okay, mom,” Randy said.
“You behave yourself and be nice. You’re lucky to have company while you wait for the doctors.”
The woman turned and started back the way she came.
“The nurse said it would be twenty or thirty more minutes, so we’ll eat quick and be back up here before they take you in, okay?”
“Okay, mom.”
“Sorry for him,” the woman said to Katie as she walked by.
“He’s funny.”
Katie grinned.
As the woman left, Katie noticed the boy moving around again on the bed. Before she realized what was happening, the tiny lump disappeared and she could hear the faint sound of bare hands and feet on the tile floor.
He was low crawling under the beds toward her.
A moment later, Randy popped his head out from under the nearest hospital bed, craning his neck around to look up at her.
“Hello, there,” Katie said.
Randy disappeared back under the bed, the bed sheet draping down almost to the floor. Katie could still see three little fingers pressed to the tile.
“What are you here for?” Katie asked, readjusting her seat in the chair, trying to get the ache in her chest to lessen.
For whatever reason, the wheelchair was really uncomfortable.
“Why are – “
Randy’s voice trailed off for a moment as he looked around.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m getting my leg fixed,” Katie said. “See?”
Randy poked his head back out from under the bed and looked at the leg she was pointing to.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“The doctor said it’s broken,” Katie said. “Shattered.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. Ouch.”
“Can you feel it?” Randy asked, able to stay out from his hiding place.
“I can feel it, but it’s not too bad,” Katie said, then tapped the IV in her arm. “This thing is giving me medicine of some kind for the pain. At least that’s what the nurses said.”
“Why are you – “
Randy stopped mid-sentence.
He scooted out from under the bed entirely and slowly crept over to er on all fours.
“What are you, some kind of spider?” Katie asked, giggling a little.
“What are you?” Randy echoed.
He was now only about a foot away from her chair and sat there, his legs folded up under him, gawking up at her.
“What are you staring at me for?”
“I’ve never – “
Randy put out a hesitant hand and ever so gently touched her arm.
“Are you some kind of ghost?”
He looked around again.
“Are you – ”
He leaned in, talking in a whisper.
“Are you dead?”
A nurse came around the corner and stopped abruptly, spotting the empty bed in the far corner where Randy should have been.
“Randy Andrews,” the nurse said, her hands now on her hips. “You get right back into the bed and you stop playing around, please. They are ready for you in surgery.”
Katie watched as Randy scrambled on all fours under the beds and back up onto his, pulling the sheet back over top of himself again.
She started to ask him about his question, but couldn’t get the words out before his parents appeared at the door.
Katie sat there quietly, watching Randy stare back at her from under his sheet. She glanced over at his parents and the nurse, noticed Randy’s dad had no hair on the top of his head.
Are you dead?
What kind of question was that?
The snap of the wheel locks being disengaged on Randy’s hospital bed jarred Katie out of the confusion she was in.
The doctor she’d first seen was now at the door, waiting for Randy.
He was his surgeon.
They wheeled Randy out of the room, his parents following right behind, disappearing to the left, heading for his operating room.
The pre-op room was empty again.
Dead.
Are you dead?
What kind of crazy question was that?
The nurse came back through the double doors.
“It won’t be long now,” she said.
“Okay.”
Katie tried not to think about the dull ache growing just behind her sternum.
The nurse disappeared around the corner as Katie watched the double doors to the operating rooms slowly shut.
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What do you think?